Meet the Author

The FermentedlyChallenged blog has been retired since the end of October 2016. It has been a great 9 year run. Thanks to all the readers and brewery staff for all your support in the past. I'm living in the Denver metro area and working in the Cable TV industry now. Cheers and enjoy beer responsibly. Follow along on social media - @ChipperDave on Twitter and on Facebook.

Friday, April 2, 2010

Hot off the presses comes word from Odell Brewing in Fort Collins of their next upcoming beer release. This one looks to be a sour ale and should be highly anticipated. Read on for details on their newest in the Single Server series.

Fort Collins, Colo. – On April 19, 2010. Odell Brewing will release its much anticipated Saboteur Brett Barrel Brown Ale. This is the fourth limited release offering in the brewery’s Single Serve series of beers.

The brewer’s at Odell Brewing created an unpretentious, yet sophisticated brown ale. Then they conspired (with a sinister snicker) and plotted to dose this full-bodied ale with brettanomyces, the ultimate adversary of wineries. By embracing this vintner’s nemesis, the brewer’s created a complex and delightfully drinkable beer.

Wood aged and bottle conditioned, Saboteur pours a deep burnt umber color and offers intense earthy undertones. Nuances of tannins, hints of vanilla and pineapple intermingle with a sour silhouette, giving the beer exquisite texture and depth.
Colorado beer enthusiasts were treated to a sneak peak of the beer at the Kegs and Curds event in March at the Wynkoop in Denver . “Saboteur was paired with a Gruyere Surchoix and took second place out of about 20 pairings,” said Lynsey Perry who represented the brewery at the event.

Odell Brewing will celebrate the release of Saboteur with a tasting in the brewery’s tap room on April 17, 2010 from 4-6 p.m. Guests can enjoy samples of the brew paired with artisan cheeses while listening to the musical styling’s of Key of Joy.

Saboteur is offered in 750 ml Belgian style bottles and will be available in the brewery’s eight state distributor region at a suggested retail price of $12.99 per bottle.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

With sunny skies, it was the perfect day to get your sour face on at the inaugural Boulder SourFest 2010 at the Avery Brewing Tap Room in Boulder, Colorado. I, along with 500 fellow sour beer enthusiasts, gathered on a great sunny day to sample some of the 65+ sour beers from around the USA inside Avery's intimate quarters of their barrel aging room and warehouse.

SourFest was at the right time and had all the right beers in my opinion. Attendees were given a "menu" of all available beers plus a commemorative snifter glass with 20 tasting tickets inside. Each sample ended up being around a 2oz pour. Some servers were a bit more generous with their pours than others but generally you were given enough tickets to sample a wide variety of beers created with various strains of Brettanomyces and/or Lactobaccilus yeast strains.Bring on da funk!

It may take some a while to get adjusted to the funkiness, tartness and sometimes outrageous flavors that sour beers can impart. But once you get a taste for them it may be all that you may ever want again.

I'm one of those folks who are absolutely SOLD on sour beers. I just love em! And for a 4-5 hour period I was in sour heaven. For those of you who went - did you think this fest was impressive? I did!

The best thing about this event was seeing so many familiar faces (like Nicole, Jeff, PJ and others) and also having a chance to meet and greet some of the local brewers who were also in attendance. Adam Avery (Avery Brewing) and Peter Bouckaert (New Belgium Brewing) were among some of the more noticeable brewers mingling with the crowd.

Whew! That's a lot of brewers and they brought around 65 different beers. I only wish I had enough time to sample each and every one of them, but alas, only 20 tickets were handed out and that ended up being just enough for this festival. The majority of the beers were over 7% ABV and after 40oz of sampling you could definitely feel it!

My favorites

Where do I begin. I'll start off with my top picks.

Veritas 007 - The Lost Abbey. Oh my - one of the sourest beers I've ever tasted. Supposedly made from Isabelle Proximus and Cabernet franc grapes. Nearly pink in color but oh so good!

Duck Duck Gooze - The Lost Abbey. This one was a favorite from GABF last year and I had to have more. A blend of young and old barrel-aged beers. Highly sought after.

Old Growth - Trinity Brewing Co. This was another hit from the GABF and it was even better than I remember. A Flemish inspired wild brown ale that was tart and tasty. Seek this out.

Benevolence - Cambridge Brewing. This is what I'm calling my surprise hit of the festival. A dark barrel aged brew that was full of chocolate aroma. Sour chocolate. Very, very wonderful on the nose and the mouth. Loved this.

Gold Yeller - Cascade Brewing. Cascade is well known for their sour ales. They shined at the GABF in my record books for having some very tasty sours. This light colored wonder was aged in Pinot Noir barrels for a year. Simple wonderful.

Inaugural Boulder SourFest Blend - Avery Brewing. I had to try out the namesake brew of the fest. This brew was dark, acetic and blended from many different brews aged at different times. Very tasty!

Sour Black Butte Porter - Deschutes Brewing. I love their regular Black Butte Porter and just had to try a sour version of it. Dark, roasty and funky. A great sideline for this beer. Not as sour as others but still darn good.

I could go on with my raves. There were so many hits here and very few misses.

Let's do this again

I'd like to give Avery Brewing a big round of applause for hosting this 1st hope-to-be annual event. The 500+ in attendance were well behaved and the facilities were perfect for just such a fest. The only thing that could make this better would be to keep doing this fest every year and open it up to more people. I predict this festival will sell out EVERY year like it did this time around.

If you love sour ales then this fest should definitely be on your must-see list next year. Simply the best.

I hope to post lots of pictures and some video of the tasting in the days to come. I posted one video of a sampling I did of Benevolence (sour chocolate beer) and posted it to YouTube.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

A long-time tap room only brew, Left Hand Brewing Company of Longmont, Colorado announces it is finally releasing their 400 Pound Monkey IPA as a new bottled year-round brew. I had the opportunity over a year ago to try some of this on tap at their tasting room and was impressed with the flavor of this brew. Read below for their official press release and pic courtesy of their official blog...

Left Hand Monkeys Around

[PRESS RELEASE] LONGMONT, CO (Feb 2010) - It's the year 2010. A plague of unbalanced, exaggeratedly hoppy beers have wiped out millions of palates in the United States since 1996. Only a small percentage of the population's discriminating palates have survived to this point. Many beer drinkers are now forced to live without the ability to taste malt. Left Hand Brewing Head Brewer Ro Guenzel volunteered to brew an antidote, going back in time when IPA's were more sessionable and balanced, and to help others discover that not all hops are of a big, citrusy character. The result? 400 Pound Monkey IPA.
Welcome to the jungle. Joe Schiraldi, VP of Brewing Operations, waxed poetic. "Just when you thought that the world needs another IPA like it needs another virus, we've started to brew a year-round IPA. But this one ain't like them others. It's an English-style IPA that separates itself from the ubiquitous bunch. Any monkey can throw 400 pounds of hops in a kettle."

Brassy in color, with an off-white head, the Monkey exhibits an earthiness quite different from American-style IPAs. Soft aromas of freshly cut hay, bitter orange and white cheese rind (courtesy of Boadicea and Sovereign hop varieties) are the first impression. But once the cage has been opened and a sip savored, a multi-pronged 12-monkey assault on the palate begins. The initial bready maltiness is attacked immediately by a variety of flavors ranging from green tea to glacier melt water to wild flower honey, coating your palate and refusing to leave.

"But just as one monkey arouses a great deal of amusement, two or more double the interest and amusement, which is why you should have more than one," says Ro. "If you allow this beer to warm up, that's where the Monkey really begins to shine. The malt starts to open, balancing the hop attack, but still allowing a very long herbal hoppiness to linger on your tongue. There's just a lot going on."

So, alas, comes the inevitable questions - what are the ABV and IBU? Well, the Monkey weighs in at 6.8% ABV, but the bitterness? Well, it depends on perception versus reality, but a polite monkey never tells.

About Left Hand Brewing Company
Celebrating sixteen years of brewing a well-balanced portfolio of craft beers, Left Hand Brewing Company is located at 1265 Boston Avenue in Longmont, Colorado. The brewery has received 16 medals at the Great American Beer Festival and 8 medals at the World Beer Cup, and its beers are now available in 29 states and 11 countries. "Sometimes you're not in the mood for what everyone else is having."

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

A lot of local craft beer news happened during the last two weeks. Here's a list of news tidbits from around the state of Colorado. Enjoy a Colorado craft brew while you catch up.

The Fort Collins Brewery

FCB's new building is coming along well. Planned opening of their new brewery and eatery (Alimente) is on track for June 2010. The Alimente gastropub's menu will focus on fresh local foods with seasonal changes. The restaurant will offer views of the brewery's operations and will have a 31 seat bar, a private community room for events and a large patio facing the nearby golf course. Upcoming events include their Maibock release on February 23rd and the special Michael Bolton birthday bash on Friday Feburary 26th.

Oskar Blues

The folks at Oskar Blues recently revamped their web site and now has more info being share with their music section, blog and Twitter and Facebook pages. Their Ten Fidy final shipments to stores have now gone out - grab some of that imperial stout while it's still on shelves. GUBNA - a new imperial IPA will be in cans on in stores on March 1st. Gubna becomes the 6th beer to be canned by Oskar Blues and will be a seasonal rotation when Ten Fidy isn't on the shelves. Also, folks who visit any of the 3 O.B. location can take the Oskar Blues bus between their locations on Saturdays and Sundays. Stops include the Tasty Weasel, Liquids & Solids, and the restaurant in Lyons.Twisted Pine Brewing

Twisted Pine Brewing Company of Boulder has been busy with releases. This month's featured brews include Razzy Xpress, a raspberry Espresso stout, came out for Valentines day and is available at their tap room. Also, Hoppy Man Imperial IPA roll-out happened last week. Hoppy Man is a big hoppy brew packed with 4 different kinds of hops and should be on shelves now. Over 20 different Twisted Pine beers are now on tap at their Ale House in Boulder with 5 more different brews coming later this month.

Great Divide Brewing Company

Great Divide Brewing of Denver announced that Hoss Rye Lager and Claymore Scotch Ale were added in mid-February as part of their year-round line up of beers and are no longer just a seasonal. Also, Saison was renamed and relabeled as Colette Farmhouse Ale which is now available. Great Divide is now also touting their Espresso Oak Aged Yeti and claim it can even be had as a breakfast brew. What a way to start your day. Careful, it weighs in at 9.5% ABV. Better go easy with that and the corn flakes. There will be a big Release Party for all the above GD beers on February 19th from 6-9pm at their tap room in Denver.

Avery Brewing

Avery recently celebrated a 4-year celebration of their Collaboration Not Litigation beer with Russian River. A 4-year vertical tasting was done earlier this month to commemorate the occasion. Later this month, Avery and the Society for the Pursuit of Hoppiness will host a talk on "Sour Ales Deconstructed: Deciphering Flavor Components of Complex Beers" on February 22nd as a lead in to their Inaugural Boulder SourFest on Saturday, February 27th in Boulder at their Barrel Aging room. Also coming up March 5th will be their Maharaja Imperial IPA Batch #11 Release Party at their tap room. Details for the 8th Annual Boulder strong Ale Fest are now coming out. Date has been set for April 30th and May 1st for this weekend event.

Wynkoop Brewing

Denver's well known downtown brewery, Wynkoop, is set to host it's annual Beer Drinker of the Year event on Saturday, February 27th, 2010 in downtown Denver. Last year's winner Cody Chrisman will be on hand as a judge this year to test the metal of 3 new contestants. Also, Rail Yard Ale is now in cans! Look for it at local stores around the Denver area and in local bars. The Wynkoop is also hosting a bit Fat Tuesday celebration on February 16th starting at 6pm.

Bristol Brewing Company

The folks down in Colorado Springs are hosting a big Firkin Rendezvous and a Dock Sale on Saturday, February 20th at the brewery. A record 28 breweries will be participating in this celebration of beer in firkins. Most of these beers will be big beers so don't plan on driving after this event. Stay at a local hotel. Get tickets while they last.

Phantom Canyon Brewing Company

Phantom Canyon has launched their new Two Headed Dog Double IPA on February 12th and is now available on tap. It's a big 8.4% ABV with 114 IBUs! This beer is best served in a snifter glass. Go check it out at their Colorado Springs brewhouse.

That's all the latest news during the last two weeks. More news from Colorado coming soon.

Word on the street says that the Falling Rock Tap House in Denver is tapping open several kegs of Russian River's Pliny the Younger starting Tuesday, February 16th at 5pm. Falling Rock knows that this is a highly sought after beer and they are going to be rationing it out from now through Friday, February 26th.

Read below for all the details from Chris at the Falling Rock from his latest newsletter.

Falling Rock Taphouse Announcements

Howdy Folks,

Well it's been a busy winter around here with all kinds of interesting beers available, but one topic has DEFINITELY been at the head of the list: When will Pliny the Younger be available? Well I have the definitive answer for you: Tuesday February 16th @ 5pm. If you've been keeping up w/ Russian River's website you already know that the beer is no longer available at the pub. There are only a few kegs coming to Colorado & Falling Rock is, of course, getting some. If you cannot make it here on Tuesday the 16th, the last chance will be on Friday February 26th @ 5pm when I will tap the last keg that I have. This is the night before Avery's Sour Beer Fest & Wynkoop's Beer Drinker of the Year competition so I figure it's a good time, there will quite a few people from elsewhere in town to attend one of these events. Other events:Sunday February 21st 1-5pm 2nd Annual Hawaiian Shirt Party Come celebrate the middle of Winter by breaking out your Hawaiian Shirts & spending a few hours eating & drinking @ the Falling Rock. Cost: $10 if you're wearing your Falling Rock Hawaiian Shirt, $15 if you're wearing another Hawaiian Shirt (or Hawaiian Dress), $20 if you aren't wearing Island Attire. What do you get? Food & Beer will be put out Downstairs for you to enjoy, We will also be 'Bobbing for Beer' for $3 a 'bob'. If you are not familiar w/ 'Bobbing for Beer' it involves retrieving numbered washers from the bottom of a container filled with Ice water. The number corresponds to a numbered bottle of beer, Some bottles are really special (like things from Russian River, Lost Abbey, or back vintages of Avery) some definitely not (like Light American Industrolagers) .

Saturday March 13th 9am- ? St. Patrick's Parade Come on out & Enjoy the Parade (it runs right in front of the Falling Rock) from a place with good Beer & Food. We will be serving Breakfast Burrito's From opening till we run out & then we'll be serving Corned Buffalo & Cabbage for the rest of the day (or until it runs out also). If you are coming down, it is recommended that you park to the west of us and get to us by walking east (really southeast) on 20th. The Parade starts @ 27th & Blake and runs down Blake to 15th where it turns right onto 15th to Wynkoop then right on Wynkoop to 19th then left in front of the Chophouse & Finishes ( check out the parade website for the map)

Friday April 9th 10am-? Rockies Home Opener vs the Padres Always a great day here @ the Falling Rock. We'll have a booth out on the patio Serving Odell Beer (5 flavors) and Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey.

Here's a beer that I've had on the back burner for quite some time and the time was right to bring this one out. Back in October 2009, Odell Brewing Company came out with another in it's first Reserve Series of beers. This beer was named Mountain Standard Reserve '09 - a deep mahogany ale with a distinct hoppy character.

Now while BeerAdvocate qualifies this as an American Brown Ale, I believe this beer to be in a slightly different category due to it's big hoppy profile.

Mountain Standard Reserve came in a big 750ml bottle with a cork and wire cage seal. The label states that this beer weighs in at a respectable 8.5% ABV. I must admit that I had a terrible time trying to open this bottle. The cork was so tight that it literally took me 5 to 10 minutes just to get it out of the bottle. Even before I took my first sip it put up quite a fight.Appearance: Once the bottle was open I was in for another big surprise. As I poured this into my globe glass the head started building immediately. The head became so big that is quickly expanded and overflowed the glass.

The picture below says it all, this bad boy of a brown ale built up a 5 to 6 finger head with almost no effort at all. It took me a good 10 minutes of waiting for the head to subside to get a full serving poured into my glass.

Once I had a glass full the beer appeared as a definite dark red (mahogany) colored brew with a light tan head. I wasn't able to see through this beer too well due to the darkness. I didn't see much sediment, if any, even though the beer was bottle conditioned. The beer looked adequately carbonated and was evident from the loud pop when the cord finally came out.

Aroma: Here is the highlight of the beer. Mountain Standard Reserve had a big citrusy hop aroma from the generous amount of Cascade and Chinook hops that were brewed into it. It was a very pleasant smell, one that reminded me of an IPA but this one had more dark malt to it than a typical IPA would. I could definitely pick up on some sweet malt in the aroma, somewhat biscuity as well. It smelled "dry".

Mouthfeel: This beer came with a full bodied taste. It was richer than most brown ales (or IPA's too for that matter). It left a creamy sensation in the mouth and finished dry as I expected. The carbonation felt lighter than it looked but that was OK.

Taste: Mountain Standard ended up being a moderately hoppy amber tasting brew that made my mouth water a little bit upon the first several sips. The beer started out very cold and got better as it warmed up a bit. I'd stop short saying that this tasted like an India Pale Ale. It had plenty of tasty hops but the malts also come out well in the brew as well.

I've been drinking nothing but stouts as of late and this beer was a nice way to begin transitioning into more hoppy beers for the coming Spring. It was still a dark tasting brew but with extra hops thrown in to give it a bit more character.

Overall: This beer was enjoyable right from the start and get better as I went along. Perhaps since I left this beer age for 4-5 months the hop characteristic tapered off a bit but that didn't change the fact that this was a truly good beer. I was able to finish off the entire bottle fairly easily in an entire sitting.

If you like IPAs but are looking for a beer with a darker and a bit more malty taste then you should seek out a bottle of Mountain Standard Reserve while they still exist at the stores. I'm giving this beer a big Thumbs Up.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Inside Left Hand Brewing's last email newsletter they posted some links to two exclusive videos that give an inside look at what they do inside their brewery in Longmont Colorado. The first video deals with the brewing processes and the people who brew at Left Hand. The second video shows a little of the packaging line and then talks with the founders of Left Hand Brewing Company.

Check out these videos and you'll get a good appreciation of life behind the scenes at a typical Colorado brewery. Enjoy!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

As you recall from last week's article, New Belgium Brewing of Fort Collins, Colorado announced the release of their new Ranger IPA. Now the folks at Falling Rock Tap House in Denver Colorado want to host a release event for this new beer. Below are the details from Falling Rock's latest newsletter detailing out the upcoming event plus a couple of other upcoming tidbits. Read below for the official word from Chris at Falling Rock.

Falling Rock Tap House Announcements

Howdy Folks,
Hope everyone had a good holiday season. Here's a few things that are happening here at the Falling Rock:

So it's about time that the State's Largest Craft Brewery (& 3rd largest in the US) FINALLY makes something Hoppy. Simcoe, Cascade and Chinook make up the hop profile in this 6.5% ABV beer (hop level is 60 IBUs). “Beer Rangers are our beer sales folks and they had long wanted an IPA – something with a lot of hops. This beer was created for them and as a tribute to all they do out in the market.” (Just wanted to give a shout-out & thanks to Jamie) The website for New Belgium says that they are releasing it on February 1st, But you can check it out on tap Here a few days early.Tuesday February 2nd 7:30 pm 13th Annual Barleywine Dinner.

Cheryl will be cooking up a storm & I'm digging deep into my stash for a few aged special treats (Like some Alaskan Barleywine & Dogfish Head Old School from '09) $50 if purchased by Sunday the 31st, $60 after (if Available)

Wednesday February 3rd, Dain Bramage Begins again.

It's Barleywine Season Here at the Falling Rock & Many will be on tap With past vintages also. Also a special Bottle list of Barleywines from the Stash will be made available (VERY limited quantities)

Thursday, January 21, 2010

The canned craft beer revolution has picked up another recruit in Colorado. This time, it's the Avery Brewing Company of Boulder, CO who announced this week in a Westword article that they will begin to put four of their craft beers into cans this spring.

Avery will join the likes of Oskar Blues, New Belgium, Ska, Upslope, Wynkoop and others in the state who have decided that by offering another alternative packaging will help make their beers available in more places where bottles cannot go.

In the Westword article, Adam Avery stated that four of their beers including Ellie's Brown Ale, India Pale Ale, White Rascal and a yet to be released new beer will be the initial brews going into cans.

Think about it, this move makes sense. Cans are easier to recycle and cost less to make and transport. It helps to reduce shipping costs which can help to hold rising costs down. I look forward to trying these beers again from a can.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Here is a list of the upcoming Colorado beer festivals, beer dinners, tapping parties, seminars and related events that are known or planned for the month of September 2010. These listings are updated every week, so stop back often to see the latest happenings with beer in Colorado. Dates and events are subject to change. If you know of a Colorado event that you don't see here, please leave a comment and let us know. I'll be happy to add it.

Note: Most dates for September 2010 events have not yet been finalized. The following list is intended to give an indication of the recurring events that are typically held each year.

GABF Week EventsStay tuned for all the dozens of events surrounding the 2010 GABF.

Great American Beer Festival (GABF)September 16-18, 2010 (Thu-Fri)Colorado Convention CenterDenver, COThe 29th annual GABF is even earlier this year! Don't miss out on one of the biggest beer festivals on earth. Last year over 470 breweries and 2400 beers were on hand along with 45,000+ fans. This year is expected to be as big as ever. Get your tickets EARLY starting in late June as this event usually sells out by late-August. Hang out after the fest each day in LoDo for several before and after GABF parties. If you can only attend one Colorado beer festival this year - make it this one!www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com

Denver Rare Beer Tasting IISeptember 17, 2010 (Fri)Wynkoop Brewery (tentative host)Denver, CODowntown Denver will once again host a premier tasting of rare and exotic beers on Sept. 17th from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Wynkoop Brewery to benefit the Pints for Prostates campaign. The 2nd Denver Rare Beer Tasting is taking place in Mile High City during the annual Great American Beer Festival when thousands of beer fans will be in the city. The event will feature a select group of more than 20 of America’s top craft brewers each pouring a legendary beer. These very special, rare and exotic beers will be presented by the brewers who created them to an extremely limited audience. Money raised by the event goes to support the Pints for Prostates campaign, created in 2008 by Rick Lyke, a drinks journalist and prostate cancer survivor. The campaign uses the universal language of beer to reach men with an important message about the need for regular prostate health screenings.

Roughly 450 tickets will be available for the event. Admission, which includes unlimited beer samples, hors d’oeuvres, a commemorative tasting glass and the chance to meet some of America's top brewers, is $55 in advance and $65 at the door (estimate). Tickets can be purchased online (info TBA) and at the Wynkoop Brewery. For information call 800-977-BEER or visit www.ustoo.org/pints.

Additional events will be added as they become known. Please report additions or corrections to Chipper Dave (see email on the side column).

Here is a list of the upcoming Colorado beer festivals, beer dinners, tapping parties, seminars and related events that are known or planned for the month of August 2010. These listings are updated every week, so stop back often to see the latest happenings with beer in Colorado. Dates and events are subject to change. If you know of a Colorado event that you don't see here, please leave a comment and let us know. I'll be happy to add it.

Note: Most dates for August 2010 events have not yet been finalized. The following list is intended to give an indication of the recurring events that are typically held each year.

14th Annual Keystone Bluegrass & Beer FestJuly 31 - August 1, 2010 (Sat & Sun)River RunKeystone, CO7:30PM Friday Night Concert at the Pavilion at Keystone12-5PM - Beer Garden and Festival1-5PM - Beer TastingKeystone brings the wonders of Appalachia to the Rockies. Down-home cooking, frothy flavors and mountain-music are just a piece of the pie. In a whirlwind of hillbilly luxuries, folks gather while microbreweries from Colorado and beyond showcase their unique blends of hops and barley. Visit the beer garden and unwind and savor a cold one. Enjoy acoustic bluegrass music accompanied with beers. Live music on 3 stages. Inflatables and wacky activities for the kids. Ticket info TBA. Web site.

Bohemian Nights at the New West FestAugust 20-22, 2010 (Fri-Sun)Old TownFort Collins, COApproximately 137 years ago Fort Collins was established along the banks of the Cache la Poudre River and this August the community will celebrate this birthday with Northern Colorado’s largest festival, Bohemian Nights at NewWestFest. The 2010 festival will be held August 20, 21 & 22 in Historic Downtown Fort Collins. In its 22nd year this FREE weekend showcases over 300 arts, crafts and food booths, Kids' World, Kids’ Music Adventure, a children's carnival, two beer gardens, and seven stages of continuous entertainment highlighting Northern Colorado and the Front Range’s wonderfully talented artists. Web site.

NedFest 2010August 27-29, 2010 (Fri-Sun)Nederland, CONedFest 2010 is the 12th annual three-day outdoor music and microbrew festival with camping located in the mountains of Nederland Colorado, just 17 miles west of (3,000 ft. above) Boulder. It happens at the end of August and the music featured is in the Bluegrass, Jazz, Jamband and World Beat genres, or moreso, a sound that blends these styles and others together. Up to six bands perform each day on one stage with acoustic 'tweener sets between each band. www.nedfest.com

Rocky Mountain Irish FestivalAugust 27-29, 2010 (Fri-Sun)The RanchLarimer County Fairgrounds and Events ComplexLoveland, COThe Rocky Mountain Irish Festival brings a magnificent cultural event for the entire family. It’s an event with rich history and culture showcasing musicians, dancers, pipers, storytellers and so much more. Treat yourself to stories of famous Irish actors, authors, from freedom fighters to brewers and saints. Warm your heart and soul with Irish storytellers while nourishing your appetite with fabulous Irish food. Enjoy a freshly poured pint of Guinness from the world famous “Gig Rig” boasting thirty two taps offering Guinness, Harps and Smithwicks. Take in a professional whiskey tasting scheduled through out the weekend. www.fortcollinsirishfestival.com

Here is a list of the upcoming Colorado beer festivals, beer dinners, tapping parties, seminars and related events that are known or planned for the month of July 2010. These listings are updated every week, so stop back often to see the latest happenings with beer in Colorado. Dates and events are subject to change. If you know of a Colorado event that you don't see here, please leave a comment and let us know. I'll be happy to add it.

Note: Most dates for July 2010 events have not yet been finalized. The following list is intended to give an indication of the recurring events that are typically held each year.

4th of July CelebrationsWeekend of July 2-5th, 2010 (Fri - Mon)Various BreweriesCheck back here often for updated news on the many celebrations at numerous Colorado breweries and cities.

Summerfest in the RockiesJuly 9-11, 2010 (Fri-Sun)Civic Center Park/DowntownLoveland, COSummerFest in the Rockies is a community event that is held annually the second weekend in July in downtown Loveland. SummerFest in the Rockies kicks off on Friday evening with a wine tasting and entertainment on the plaza at the Foote Lagoon. Participants enjoy live entertainment from a local/regional band and tasted Colorado’s finest wines. Saturday and Sunday activities included a beer/wine garden, live entertainment, vendors, arts and crafts booths and activities for the whole family. SummerFest also includes a car show on Saturday and Sunday for people to enjoy on Washington Street. We will also launch fireworks on Saturday night to conclude the day’s festivities. Beer garden Saturday 11am - 10pm, Sunday 11am - 5:30pm. Web site.

14th Annual Colorado Brewers' RendezvousJuly 10, 2010 (Sat)Riverside ParkSalida, COThe Colorado Brewers Guild, a trade association dedicated to the Colorado craft brewing industry, facilitates beer educational activities in Colorado. No other nation offers as many different and exciting, flavorful beers as the United States, with thousands of different ales and lagers now available to Americans in all regions of the country. The Colorado Brewers Rendezvous is an excellent opportunity for everyone to tap into the rich heritage and tradition of American brewing, as well as the unique flavors offered by Colorado brewers. Event open from 1:00pm to 5:00pm. Web site.

Breckenridge Beer FestivalJuly 17, 2010 (Sat)Main Street StationBreckenridge, COThe festival is located at the Main Street Station, on the south side of Breckenridge at 505 S. Main Street. Beer lovers rejoice! Samplings from 20 microbreweries and over 40+ craft beers. Beer sampling from 1pm - 6pm for $25 (estimate) in advance or $30 (estimate) at the gate. Live music from three live bands on the "Summit Stage". No pets allowed. Web site.

Summer Brew FestJuly 23, 2010 (Fri)Mile High StationDenver, COA Denver beer fest with unlimited samples of the best regional suds from more than 25 breweries and 75 different beers. Live music to be included. The Summer Brew Fest will celebrate Colorado's finest craft beverages. There will be a special VIP session that starts at 6pm for $40 in advance or $45 at the door and lets you sample beers with a smaller crowd for an extra hour. Then the regular session starts at 7pm and will run until 10pm. Regular ticket price is $30 in advance, $35 at the door. Web site.

The Springs Beer FestJuly 24, 2010 (Sat) 11am - 6pmAntlers Park 31 W. Pikes Peak AveColorado Springs, COThis fest, formerly known as Foam Fest, will be one of the Springs' best beer fests of the year. Tickets available online soon. Check the Facebook page for further details.

14th Annual Keystone Bluegrass & Beer FestJuly 31 - August 1, 2010 (Sat & Sun)River RunKeystone, CO7:30PM Friday Night Concert at the Pavilion at Keystone12-5PM - Beer Garden and Festival1-5PM - Beer TastingKeystone brings the wonders of Appalachia to the Rockies. Down-home cooking, frothy flavors and mountain-music are just a piece of the pie. In a whirlwind of hillbilly luxuries, folks gather while microbreweries from Colorado and beyond showcase their unique blends of hops and barley. Visit the beer garden and unwind and savor a cold one. Enjoy acoustic bluegrass music accompanied with beers. Live music on 3 stages. Inflatables and wacky activities for the kids. Ticket info TBA. Web site.

Additional events will be added as they become known. Please report additions or corrections to Chipper Dave (see email on the side column).

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

While visiting the New Belgium Brewery web site I was drawn to two beers that were being highlighted and are new to the scene in early 2010. The first beer is part of their Explore Series and is called Ranger India Pale Ale (IPA). The second is a beer that's become part of New Belgium's Lips of Faith Series and is called Dark Heather Saison. Read below for details on these debuting beers.

Ranger India Pale Ale

Ranger IPA is a tribute to New Belgium's Beer Rangers who help spread the good news about New Belgium beer across this mighty land. New Belgium describes this beer as follows:

New Belgium’s foray into the true American India Pale Ales. Bring out the hops! This clear amber beauty bursts at the starting gate with an abundance of hops: Cascade (citrus), Chinook (floral/citrus), and Simcoe (fruity) lead off the beer, with Cascade added again for an intense dry hop flavor. Brewed with pale and dark caramel malts that harmonize the hop flavor from start to finish, Ranger is a sessionable splendor for all you hopinistas. Thank your Beer Ranger! 70 IBUs, 6.5% ABV. Coming to where good beer is served and sold February 1, 2010!"While New Belgium isn't known for big hoppy beers, they are known for producing beers with big bold flavor. For you IPA lovers out there, February 1st can't come soon enough.

Here is a link to an official press release on Ranger IPA on BeerAdvocate.

Dark Heather Saison

On the other side of the coin is New Belgium's Dark Heather Saison. The Lips of Faith Series keeps getting more broader and bolder. This beer is describes as:

"This winter saison starts with pale and black barley malts creating a deep midnight hue with reddish highlights. The beer is spiced with cardamom, heather and black pepper for a touch of sweet that fades to a warm, peppery finish. Target and Saaz hops accentuate the spicing while the peppery notes balance nicely with the fruitiness of the saison yeast. The resulting dark saison is a lovely tongue tingler for those long winter nights. 7.5% abv."

New Belgium is known for adding a wide variety of spices to their beers. They go out of their way to find the right mix of ingredients to add more life to the taste.

Look for these beers where New Belgium bomber beers are sold soon. This winter may be a cold one but it doesn't have to be a dull one. Cheers.

Monday, January 18, 2010

It's been a while since I've visited a beer from Full Sail Brewing in Oregon but when I spotted a 22oz bottle of their Full Sail Black Gold Imperial Stout, a Bourbon Barrel-aged Brewmaster Reserve 2009, I couldn't resist picking it up. This style of beer is one of my favorites anyway and having it as an aged beer made it even more appealing.

Black Gold Imperial Stout was brewed back in February 2008 and then aged for 10 months in a Kentucky Bourbon barrel. This big 10.5% ABV / 65 IBU beer would certainly take on some characteristics of the oak with hints of bourbon and vanilla. I was anxious to try it out.

Appearance: As in most imperial stouts, Black Gold poured dark at night with just a slight reddish brown edge. The pour yielded a decent 2-finger tall light brown head that quickly evaporated. Swirling the beer in the glass didn't produce much lacing but there was some that stuck around on the glass.Aroma: Oh man! This is where Full Sail Black Gold really shines. The moment I took my first whiff I was in love. The bourbon barrel characteristic is really dominant here. I could pick up on the bourbon, vanilla, dark rich malts and a bit of heat from the alcohol. The smell almost reminded me of a Samuel Adams Utopias from the vanilla. This beer smelled creamy (if you could imagine such a thing).

Mouthfeel: Full Sail Black Gold was every much as creamy as the smell would indicate. It was full bodied, low level of carbonation, almost chewy, and with a slight drying effect on the back end. I got a slight mouth watering effect at the end as well (oats?). It was just what I was hoping for in an imperial stout. Nothing weak about this brew.

Taste: Here again is where Full Sail Black Gold shines. This imperial stout is full of rich chocolate, coffee, vanilla, and caramel malts. There was some heat from the high ABV but not enough to distract me. It has a decent amount of bitterness to it but was blended well with the malts to make it a nice complex and satisfying drink.

Some oaked ales don't have the right characteristic but Black Gold seemed to have the right mix of oak, bourbon and malts. This beer is a real stand out in my book. I enjoyed this beer right from the start. I was hooked from the aroma up front. Put this beer in a snifter glass and just enjoy the full aroma.

Overall: I'm giving this beer a big thumbs up. It's already one of my most favorite beers of 2010 and likely would stand up to any imperial stout out there on the market. I certainly hope that I can find another bottle of this. Please Full Sail, make more of this beer in the future.

Did anyone else enjoy this beer as much as I did? What other oak-aged impy stout would you compare this to? Please add your comments below. Thanks.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Winter may be upon us but that is no reason to slow down at Great Divide Brewing Company of Denver, Colorado. Their most recent newsletter has news of several returning seasonal brews including Claymore Scotch Ale, Hoss Rye Lager and their Barrel-Aged Yeti Imperial Stout. Read on for all their latest details.

The Big News - Happy New Year!

We want to thank all our fans once again for helping make 2009 such a great year for us; in addition to releasing almost a dozen new seasonal beers and increasing our production capacity by 50 percent, we increased our volume of beer sold by 34 percent last year, so thanks to all of you!
As great as last year was, we're planning on making 2010 even better. We're starting by bringing two of our favorite new seasonals from last year, Claymore Scotch Ale and Hoss Rye Lager (which won a bronze medal at last year's Great American Beer Festival just barely after its first release!) into our year-round lineup of six-pack beers. And we also loved last year's new Saison so much that we decided to give it a proper name, Colette, and put it in Claymore's place as our winter/spring seasonal six-pack. Stay tuned for more info on these beers, but look for each of them to hit shelves in mid-February.

We're also pleased to announce that we'll release this year's batch of Barrel-Aged Yeti Imperial Stout on January 15th. In case you've forgotten, this special release of Yeti has been aged in Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey barrels for nine months and then bottle-conditioned, giving it a substantial whiskey character as well as deep notes of oak, chocolate and dark fruit. This very limited release will be available in 750-milliliter bottles at the Tap Room and select retailers for a short time only, so make sure you dust off your snowshoes, because this particular Yeti is definitely worth the hunt.

The coming of February can only mean one thing at the Mountain Sun breweries and pubs - it marks the return of Stout Month! All three establishments: Mountain Sun, Southern Sun in Boulder and the Vine Street Pub in Denver will be hosting a month long celebration of all things dark. Dark beer that is. As in stouts!

Their recent newsletter spells out all the details. Take a look at the line-up of dark beers they have in store for the month of February. It should be worth a visit during the shortest month of the year. There are practically enough stouts to try a different one every day of the month.

Monday, January 11, 2010

I was visiting the Colorado Brewers Guild web site today and took a look at the membership list when I spotted an entry I hadn't seen before. There was a new brewery listed curiously called CAUTION: Brewing Company.

CAUTION: Brewing Company is a small start-up just in the process of getting their brewery business going. They formed an LLC in early 2009 and have plans to open a brewery in Denver, Colorado sometime in 2011.

The founders of CAUTION: Brewing Company are Danny Wang of Lakewood, CO and Bettina Fey of Denver, CO. According to Danny, "CAUTION: Brewing Company started as an idea on January 2nd, 2009 at New Belgium Brewery by two oft-maligned dreamers. Join us for the ride of your life and keep your eyes on the screen. You won't want to miss a thing."
The original name of the business was (i.e.) brewing company but after further thought they decided on the name CAUTION: Brewing Company. According to their blog: "The name reflects our personalities, the philosophy behind our brews, and the brand direction we're taking."

CAUTION: Brewing Company recently acquired the original 5 barrel pilot brewing system from Odell Brewing in Fort Collins and will be using that to brew some of their beer with. Danny states that they are proud to be designing the rest of their brewhouse around perhaps the most well known system in craft brewing, and a piece of Colorado brewing history.

At the moment CAUTION: Brewing Company plans to brew a beer for a specific restaurant initially (Lao Wang Noodle House - 945 S. Federal Blvd) and will also bottle and keg other beers for sale locally. Their brewing operations won't have a tasting room to start out with. They hope to have the brewery up and running sometime by mid-year 2010. They will begin tweeting on Twitter actively once they have their brewery space leased and they begin building the brewery. Stay tuned for more info on this new start-up.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Rumor has been going around that Oskar Blues brewery of Longmont, Colorado would be releasing a new beer destined to be in cans. Today on Facebook, Oskar Blues said the following:

"'GUBNA' NOW ON DRAFT IN LYONS: Emphasizing that complexity of character can arise from simple elements, this ale is made w/ 3 malts & 1 Summit hop. Dry hopping allows the 9.5% ABV brew to gently coax the citrus rind & grapefruit aroma to join the 100 IBUs. This beer greets you w/ a pungent citrus blast, provide a spicy yet round middle & finishes w/ a brisk, clean bitterness. MARCH 1st RELEASE DATE IN CANS!

GUBNA is an IMPERIAL IPA & will debut in a CAN on March 1st. It will rotate with TenFIDY Imperial Stout (November to March)."

Holy cow! This is going to be one big hoppy beer. Nice to know that when Ten Fidy goes on seasonal break that there will be another brew coming to fill in for the March to October time frame.

I haven't seen a can label design yet but you can bet it will be on display at their restaurants and tasting rooms very soon. It was tapped for the 1st time at their restaurant in Lyons last night (Jan. 6, 2010).

Has anyone had a chance to try this beer yet? If so, tell us about it here.

Oskar Blues at the Big Beers fest in Vail

The Big Beers, Belgians & Barleywines festival is going on in Vail, Colorado this weekend (January 7-10, 2010) and Oskar Blues is bringing along 3 special brews just for that occasion.

First is ODB - Old Double Bagger Barleywine - just 3 months old but has a long life ahead of it. It weighs in at 13.2% ABV and 100 IBUs.

The next brew is a Sour Cherry Barrel-aged Ten Fidy. It's their famous Ten Fidy thats been aged in oak barrels along with 36 pounds of tart pie cherries. A slightly lactic character and weighs in at 10% ABV.

Lastly, O.B. is offering up their Velvet M-80 Gordon Ale - an imperial red/double IPA. It weighs in at 8.7% ABV and 60 IBUs.

Wishing I was up at the festival to try some of these. Look for extras at their tasting room and restaurants.

Sometimes being green just isn't green enough and when you're the New Belgium Brewing Company of Fort Collins Colorado there's always room for improvement. The sky seems to be the limit and also the source of some of their power. New Belgium recently completed the installation and turn-on of a new solar array. Read the press release from Marketwire below and find out how the sun is now off loading their power needs at New Belgium.<
Jan 05, 2010 13:09 ET
Largest On-Site Solar Array in Colorado Now Live at New Belgium Brewing

The 200 kW system will produce 16 percent of New Belgium's peak electrical load and 3 percent of their total electrical energy use. The array is part of the brewer's commitment to Fort Collins' FortZED initiative, a public/private partnership that aims to create the world's largest "active zero energy district" through Smart Grid and renewable energy technology.
Boulder-based Namaste Solar was contracted for the integration, which began in late August. The New Belgium packaging hall now holds 870 panels, and engineers estimate it can power the bottle line for up to eight hours on a sunny day.

New Belgium, along with several other Fort Collins entities -- such as the City of Fort Collins, Colorado State University, Spirae, Inc., Brendle Group, Advanced Energy, and Woodward -- responded to a request from the Department of Energy to demonstrate peak load reduction. The partners were one of nine groups nationwide to receive such a grant.

"We feel very fortunate to participate in this ambitious local effort. By leveraging the contributions from our partners and the Department of Energy along with our own investments, we'll reduce our peak electrical load by over two-thirds," said New Belgium Sustainability Director Jennifer Orgolini. "This solar PV installation is an integral part of the portfolio because we lower our peak use by lowering our base."

New Belgium became the country's first brewery to subscribe to 100 percent wind powered electricity in 1998 and can produce up to 15 percent of its electrical needs by capturing methane from its process water treatment plant to fire a co-generation engine which produces heat and electricity on-site.

About New Belgium Brewing Company

New Belgium Brewing Company, makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale and a host of Belgian-inspired beers, began operations in a tiny Fort Collins basement in 1991. Today, the third largest craft brewer in the U.S., New Belgium produces seven year-round beers; Fat Tire Amber Ale, Sunshine Wheat, Blue Paddle Pilsner, 1554 Black Ale, Abbey, Mothership Wit and Trippel, as well as a host of seasonal releases. In addition to producing world-class beers, New Belgium takes pride in being a responsible corporate role model with progressive programs such as employee ownership, open book management and a commitment to environmental stewardship. For more information, visit www.newbelgium.com.

Odell Brewing Company also has installed new solar panels on their new expansion. According to their tweet on January 7th: "Thankful for this cold but SUNNY day - Our new Photovoltaic (Solar) installation will generate over 1/3 of our energy and goes live today!"

With a third of their energy coming from the sun, they're give another boost to Fort Collins during high energy demand days this summer. Read more about Odell Brewing's solar panels.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Left Hand Brewing Company has been busy making plans for 2010 all during the holidays and has recently published their plans for this year in their January 4th newsletter. If you haven't gotten on their newsletter list yet, don't bother because they are switching to all social media outlets for spreading the word in the future (Twitter, Facebook and their blog).

The following is a snippet from their latest (and last?) email newsletter. Lots of changes coming to their beer labels over the coming months. Read on...

"2010 is a going to be a crazy year. Lots going on that we’re excited about! First – this is the year that you’ll see updated packaging on all of our beers – it’s been a while, and we really need a face lift. So, be on the lookout for the new stuff rolling out all year. Plus, we’ve got a brand-spanking new, year-round beer affectionately called 400 Pound Monkey coming your way sometime in late January. Packaged in 6pks and kegs, we’re really excited about this new beer. It’s an IPA, but this one ain’t like them others. Sometimes you’re not in the mood for what everyone else is having, right? Using hops of a different color, earthy and herbal, well-balanced by bready malt. The result? An English-style IPA that separates itself from the ubiquitous bunch. Cartloads of bitter monkeys flinging wasteful amounts of bananas into the jungle – we’re so done with that."

2010 Left Hand Seasonal Release Schedule

Chainsaw Double Sawtooth
Available – Late-February
Packages – 22oz bombers & kegs
Back from a 2-year absence, Chainsaw kicks off 2010 with a new logo, but still the same bad-ass beer. It attempts to address an old saying that has plagues mankind since its inception. Many times we've heard "more is not always better." Invariably the person on the other side of such a statement scowls at the ramifications. Here at Left Hand we realize that life cannot be reduced to or understood in absolute terms. Our 2008 version attempts to take exception with such broad statements about the human condition. Chainsaw is a connoisseur version of our award-winning Sawtooth Ale, designed to befuddle silly generalizations about life. It opens with toasted malt, toffee and fruit flavors, yet closes with a swirling effect of garden herbs, cardamom, dry port and black cherry. Full-bodied, 9.0% alcohol by volume.

Good Juju - formerly Juju Ginger
Available – Late-February thru July
Packages – 6pks & Kegs
A little Juju voodoo – fresh ginger kisses the lithe malty body, copulating with the hop in this pale ale ancestor. Emancipate yourself from the dead of winter, none but the vernal equinox can free the light. A refreshing frivolity. Hey mon. Shuccha fwangaa! Better a witch doctor than a trouble maker. Quit yor’ bitchin’ an’ get to witchin’. Check out the new label on Beerpulse.com.

Twin Sisters Double IPA
Available – Late-May
Packages – 22oz bombers & kegs
Also Back from a 2-year absence, Twin Sisters comes back with a vengeance & a new logo. Named after the Twin Sisters peaks in nearby Rocky Mountain National Park, Twin Sisters Double IPA is a double IPA Left Hand-style - double the hops also means double the malt in our book. The sisters grab your nose up front with its sweet piney and citrusy aromas. An assertive attack of sharp, flinty hop flavors takes you from dreaming about wildflower honey to the tongue awakening earthy, bitter hop resins that swirl in to finish. Balanced with a robust, malty backbone, Twin Sisters is incredibly drinkable. Full bodied, orange copper in color, with 9.6% ABV and 87 IBU's.

Oktoberfest Marzen Lager
Available – Late-February thru July
Packages – 6pks & Kegs
This is no festivus for the restuvus – on the contrary – we start brewing in the Spring and it takes a full two months to reach lagered perfection. Biscuity, malty goodness dominates upfront while the noble pedigree hops lend a properly spicy, dry finish. Zicke zacke, zicke zacke, hoi, hoi, hoi. Time to roast your chicken and upend your stein before the air gets crisp, the leaves flame and fall and the skies fade to black. Auf geht’s!Midnight Project Collaboration with Terrapin, Brew #3
Available – September
Packages – 22oz bombers & kegs
Sometime around midnight in a city nobody can agree on, the idea for Terrapin and Left Hand to brew a collaboration beer was born. Year one was a black rye lager called Terra-rye’zd, brewed @ Left Hand, and last year was an espresso milk stout called Depth Charge, brewed @ Terrapin. This year it’ll be brewed back @ Left Hand, but we have no idea what we’re going to brew! Hold on, it’ll be a wild ride…

Warrior IPA
Available – Late September
Packages – 22oz bombers & kegs
The vibrant aromatics and flavors that are derived from the use of exuberant amounts of fresh flower hops are what helps create and set apart this most unique beer. 100% of the Fresh Hops are grown right here in Colorado – from Rising Sun Farms in Paonia, CO (there are a few other varieties from our hop farm here @ the brewery, as well as from local growers right here in our area, but the majority are Cascades). We use Warrior hops for bittering, and Goldings for dry hopping. True to our fundamental belief system, the strong hop character is balanced by a strong malt foundation, allowing for an approachable, drinkable IPA that finishes amazingly clean. The beer is full-bodied, bronze in color, and tips the scales at 6.6% alcohol by volume and 60 IBU's.

Fade to Black, Volume II
Available – Late October thru February
Packages – 6pks & Kegs
Our non-traditional, kick-you-in-the-ass ale that mirrors the available sunlight from October thru March. The name will stay the same (as well as the packaging) each year, but the style won’t. Ah, wouldn’t you like to know what Volume II will bring? You’ll have to wait until the fall…

Barrel Aged Imperial Stout
Available – Late November
Packages – 22oz bombers & kegs
We be a-rackin’ the Imperial Stout into Heaven Hill Brandy barrels early in 2010, and will blend it with un-aged Imperial Stout to woody perfection. At 22 degree plato and 10.2% ABV, it’s the perfect warmer for those cold winter nights. Enjoy the complex flavors revealing hints of raisin, black licorice, coffee, dark chocolate, and, of course, a hint of brandy.